“Attacks intensify along Gaza border” by Karin Brulliard leaves a vital part of the story untold.

You note: “…among more than 300 rockets and mortar rounds fired from Gaza since the Israeli operation began Wednesday…”

While that is true—the Israeli operation did begin Wednesday—what you leave out and what is crucial to conveying the full situation—is that Israel was responding to hundreds of Hamas rockets fired into Israel from Gaza. Israel’s operation is a reaction to relentless terror attacks.

Your story leaves the impression that Israel started this situation. Israel showed remarkable and commendable restraint for days as its citizens hid in bomb shelters trying to escape from Hamas rockets.

To fairly report the situation, each story in the Post needs to include the fact that Israel was responding to attacks against its people.

In “Israeli offensive kills Hamas Chief” Tobias Buck vaults past years of history to reach his preposterous description that the “surge in cross-border violence between Israel and Gaza-based militant groups” started Saturday.This “surge” is actually a Hamas escalation of its years of terror attacks on Israel. And “cross-border violence” is an incredible understatement in describing the hundreds of rockets Hamas fires into Israel.Buck fails to note the relentless rocket fire aimed at Israel from Hamas terrorists hiding among civilians in Gaza. Israel’s targeted strike against Ahmed Jabari was a response to a Hamas offensive. Hundreds of Hamas missiles in the last few days have forced more than one million Israelis into bomb shelters. They can’t go to school. They can’t go to work. They exist inside, in fear of the next round of Hamas attacks. But Buck doesn’t report that.By writing off the situation as “cross-border violence” Buck absolves Hamas terrorists of their incursion into Israel. There is no debate about which came first—days of Hamas rocket attacks.After Hamas’ offensive, Israel’s actions were a response, a defensive action to protect its citizens.No other country would tolerate the attacks that Israel has. Israel left Gaza in 2005. So why is Hamas firing rockets into a sovereign nation? That’s certainly worthy of investigation by Buck. But it’s apparently easier to omit key facts and use loaded language to blame Israel.The most important message for your readers—Israel has every right to defend its citizens—is not conveyed in your reporting. Your readers deserve the full story.Daniel S. MariaschinB’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President

B’nai B’rith International has discovered biased media reporting of the situation in Gaza. In too many cases, Israel is portrayed as the aggressor, while the Hamas rocket fire into Israel is overlooked.Follow the links below to read letters we have sent to the Associated Press and Reuters.In response, AP’s assistant international editor wrote back in part:“At AP we have ongoing, robust discussions about fairness _ in text, photos, video and interactives. I have already addressed this matter with the editors involved.”And Reuters’ Global Editor of Ethics and Standards responded in part:“I appreciate your concerns that we have not been explicit enough about the impetus for the Israeli attack.In certain initial articles we did not focus sufficiently on the rocket attacks against Israel that preceded the Israeli assault. We apologize for that oversight.” And he concluded: “Going forward we will redouble our vigilance to ensure that our coverage is fair and balanced and reflects all sides of the conflict.”> Read the B’nai B’rith letter to the Associated Press> Read the B'nai B'rith letter to Reuters

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